Wont sign NPT, trying to iron out differences with China says Sushama

External affairs minister told the Loksabha that India is trying to sort out the differences with China

India after unsuccessfully trying to get membership in the nuclear elite club NSG, said it is trying to iron out differences with China on the issue. External Affairs minister Sushama Swaraj said in the last month meeting of NSG China raised some procedural issues regarding India’s membership. Minister expressed the hope that issues with the neighbouring country will be sorted out soon.

She was responding to supplementary questions during question hour in Loksabha.

China’s contention was that since India is not a signatory to Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), giving India NSG membership would set a precedent.

Sushama Swaraj said even without signing NPT, India got waiver to talk to other countries on nuclear trade related issues. She reaffirmed that the country is not going to sign NPT.

The minister rejected the allegation that India had created a lot of “hype” ahead of the NSG meet in Seoul. “We have been taught to make serious efforts to achieve things…no hype was created when we submitted our application for the membership of NSG on May 12. We did it with low fanfare,” she said.

Swaraj also scoffed at suggestions by Supriya Sule (NCP) that the denial of NSG membership to India was a ‘huge diplomatic snub’ as it came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mexico and Switzerland.